PRAYER - "Prayer for Divine Healing"

Miriam and Aaron spoke against their brother, Moses, criticizing him and challenging his authority. God Himself called all three to the Tabernacle door, where He came in a pillar of a cloud. God was angry, and vindicated Moses, smiting Miriam with leprosy. Aaron panicked and pleaded with Moses to have mercy. Moses prayed for God to heal Miriam, and seven days later, she was healed. This first occurrence proves for all time that effective prayer can and will bring divine healing.

Numbers 12:13 - "And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee." Bible , Commentary and Video on healing




PRINCIPALS - "Five Offerings"     Burnt Offerings (Leviticus 1) were primary sacrifices for universal sin. Meat (food) Offerings (Leviticus 2) were a gift offering. Peace Offerings (Leviticus 3) were fellowship offerings shared between God (at the altar), the priest and the donor. Sin Offerings (Leviticus 4) covered sins of ignorance - unknown sins. Trespass Offerings (Leviticus 5) covered sins that were knowingly commited.

Leviticus 4:2 - "...If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD... then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering."     Bible and Commentary

 
Principles - "Lies and Deceptions"

Throughout the Pentateuch (the first five books, written by Moses), an almost countless array of sins are condemned. But among the reasons for the five major offerings for sins, lies, deception and bearing false witness ranked among the worst of all. The God of truth hates lies, deception and false testimony. Liars are reckoned among the worst of sinners. Only speak truth.

Leviticus 6:2-6 - "If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour... or hath deceived his neighbour; or ...sweareth falsely; ...he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD."  Bible and Commentary  


PROPHECIES - "Compensation for the Priests"

God stipulated that the priests should keep a portion of the burnt offerings, meat offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and trespass offerings for themselves. Prophetically, this a divine precedent that all ministers of all ages should be compensated for their services in the ministry.

       Leviticus 7:35 - "This is the portion ...out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the LORD in the priest's office; Which the LORD commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, ...by a statute for ever throughout their generations."   Bible , Commentary   and Video

Declare the Way of the Lord

PRAYER - "The Voice from the Mercy Seat"
They finally finished setting up and consecrating the tabernacle and priesthood. The tribes brought six wagons full of offerings. Sacrifices were made on the new altar. Then, Moses entered in, and God spoke to him from the Mercy Seat. Completed acts of obedience lead to great communion with God.

Numbers 7:89 - "...when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him."   Let's read the story.  Bible and Commentary

PRINCIPALS - "The Breastplate"

The priest's breastplate was attached to the ephod (vestment) by golden rings. It had twelve stones, each representing a tribe of Israel. This dramatized the role of the High Priest as the intercessor before God in behalf of the twelve tribes. Some believe that individual stones became illuminated when God had a special message for a particular tribe. A man of God carries the burden of the people continually over his heart.

Exodus 39:8 - "And he made the breastplate of cunning work, ...It was foursquare; ...And they set in it four rows of stones."    Let's read the story. Bible and Commentary

 
PRINCIPLES - "Touch not"

Everything in the Tabernacle was portable, because Israel was on a journey. God required them to put rings on the four corners of the holy furniture to slide staves into for the priests to lift and carry the items. The Ark of the Covenant could NEVER be touched by any man, and the staves must never be removed. This teaches reverence and sanctity for the things of God and the ministry. Modern Christians desperately need to re-learn this lesson.

Exodus 38:7 - "...he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it withal."    Let's read the story. Bible and the Tabernacle Furnishings

PROPHECIES - "Wood Overlaid With Gold"

The tabernacle furniture was made of shittim wood, overlaid with gold, silver or brass. The furnishings and walls inside the Holy Place were covered in gold. The Ark represents Christ. Wood symbolized the humanity of Christ; gold, His deity. God said, in Isaiah 13:12, "I will make a man more precious than fine gold." Shittim wood is now obscure. No one knows with certainty what kind of tree it was. The significance of our humanity will be obscured in heaven after God changes our corruption to incorruption.

Exodus 37:1 - "Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood."   Let's read the story. Bible and Commentary

Discerning as Leadership

PRAYER - "Blessings"
   

God could bless anyone without needing an intercessor. Nevertheless, He instructed the priests to pronounce blessings on the people. Men of God are beneficial to us. Though we should always want to bless people conflicts can hinder unless we direct their their energy.

Numbers 6:23-27 - "Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them."  Let's read the story. Bible

 

PRINCIPALS - "Aholiab and Bezaleel"

Two men oversaw the creation and production of the entire tabernacle and all its furnishings, in a VAST range of workmanship - metalworkers, stone cutters, woodworkers, tailors, weavers, furniture makers, apothecaries, and more. They made everything from incense and oil to the priests robes, even the Ark of the Covenant. When God needs gives you a job, He will fully enable you. So be sober minded.
   
Exodus 36:1 - "Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary."  Let's read the story. Bible and Commentery

 

PRINCIPLES - "Sweetness"
   

God ordered sweet-smelling oil and sweet-smelling incense to be used perpetually in the tabernacle. We are so accustomed to the odious and unsavory effects of sin in the world that we forget that everything in God's universe was beautiful beyond our ability to comprehend BEFORE SIN came. God demanded that His earthly house be as beautiful and pleasing as it could be, reminding us that in His presence are pleasures forevermore.
   
Exodus 37:29 - "And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary." Let's read the story. Bible



Jesus Calling Card
The Evangelist

PROPHECIES - "The Holy Anointing Oil"

God called for a specially  holy anointing oil to be used in the Tabernacle. The proprietary apothecary formula was forbidden to ANYONE outside the Tabernacle. It had myrrh, cinnamon, calumus, cassia, and olive oil, all in specific measurements. Everything in the Tabernacle had to be anointed (rubbed) with it, including the priests. This oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit which, in the New Testament church, comes to fill every believer God creates the enviroment for success in leading.

   
Exodus 30:25 - "And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil."  Let's read the story. Bible and Commentery



PRAYER - "Confession with Restitution"
Sometimes it is not good enough just to say "I'm sorry." Sometimes we owe a debt that must be repaid. God instructed Moses to tell the people not only to repay the principal of the trespass, but to add a fifth-part penalty - a twenty percent surcharge. Words alone are worthless if your deeds contradict them.
Numbers 5:7 - "Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed."  Let's read the story.  Bible

Words Worth Gold

PRINCIPALS - "Forfeiting Gold"
Nowadays, people do not talk about this much, but it is a big deal in the ancient story. After the children of Israel offended God so profoundly by worshiping the golden calf, they turned in all their gold. Eventually, God commanded that all gold be surrendered either to the Tabernacle or the kingdom - no privately held gold.
Exodus 35:22 - "And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD." Let's read the story.  Bible and Commentery

PRINCIPLE Jealous God"

God promised Israel a holy land, but commanded them to remove every false god. God will not share His glory or tolerate spiritual adultery. Our love for Him must be undivided. Love not the world.  Don't create a negative reaction between you and God.

    Exodus 34:12 - "Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God."Let's read the story.  Bible and Commentery



PROPHECIES - "The Brazen Laver"After the Priest sacrificed at the Brazen Altar, he had to wash himself at the Brazen Laver before entering the Holy Place. The laver is a typological and prophetic symbol of water baptism in the New Testament. The altar represents repentance. The laver followed, illustrating our need to be baptized for the remission of our sins after we have repented.

Watch Video

Exodus 30:18,20 - "Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal... When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not." Let's read the story. Bible and Commentery


 





 






   





 PRAYER - "Averting Judgment by Confession"

Salvation Read

God threatened horrifying judgments on Israel if they spurned and disobeyed His laws. (Video) That was fair enough. He had just delivered them from slavery, and was performing one miracle after another to sustain them. So if they rejected him, He would deal severely with them. BUT - if they confessed their wrong-doing, He promised to reverse judgment and reinstate all the blessings. That was more than fair.

Leviticus 26:40-42 - "If they shall confess their iniquity, ...if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: Then will I remember my covenant..." Let's read the story.  Bible

PRINCIPALS - "God's Sound and Light Show"

Modern rock concerts use pyrotechnics and state-of-the-art light and sound equipment to dazzle their audiences. But when Almighty God presented the Ten Commandments, the mountain quaked, covered in smoke, lightnings, and thunderings. God spoke from a great ball of fire surrounded by thick darkness. A heavenly trumpet sounded so loudly that two million people ran far away from the mountain.

Exodus 19:16 - "...there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled."  Let's read the story. Bible and Commentery

PRINCIPLES - "Sundry Laws"

Besides the Ten Commandments, God gave Moses countless "miscellaneous" laws. Every aspect of domestic life was considered. Laws about family, commerce, criminal and civil laws, moral, even sexual codes were defined. God's laws were to define right and wrong, with a prescription for punishment for non-compliance. Centuries earlier, Hammurabi of Babylon had written sundry laws on the now-famous stele, but his code has mostly perished. Today, in governments and societies around the world, the profound influence of "Moses'" law can be seen.

Exodus 21:1 - "Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them."Let's read

the story. Bible and Commentery

PROPHECIES - "The Altar of Incense"

The Altar of Incense (Video) was roughly four-feet-cubed, gold-plated, gold-crowned shittim wood, with horns on the top corners, and rings for the staves with which the priests carried it. It stood before the Veil, immediately outside the Mercy Seat, where the High Priest met God. The Priest offered holy incense morning and evening, perpetually before the Lord. Once annually, a blood atonement was made here. Incense represents the sweet odors of the prayers of the saints.

Exodus 30:1 - "...thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it."  Let's read the story. Bible and Commentery

PRAYER - "Wordless Prayers"
Prayer is defined as a petition, a request, or communion with God. The earliest forms of repentance under the Tabernacle plan involved bring sacrifices to the Lord. Nothing at all is mentioned about praying, confessing, or asking God's forgiveness. Offering a sacrifice of blood apparently constituted an admission of guilt and was viewed as a petition for God's forgiveness. Sometimes, actions speak louder than words.

Leviticus 4:23 - "Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish." Let's read the story.  Bible and Commentary

Building and Altar Today

PRINCIPALS - "The Manna"

When God led the children of Israel from Egypt into the wilderness, He fed them miraculously with manna. Manna means "what is it?" It was nutritious bread sent by God from heaven daily to about two million people for forty years. It tasted like "wafers made with honey" (Exodus 16:31). God instructed them to gather only one day's supply, except on the sixth day, they could gather extra for the Sabbath. Otherwise, it always spoiled overnight. Never doubt God's ability to meet your needs.

Exodus 16:23 - "They gathered manna every morning." Let's read the story. Bible and Commentary

PRINCIPLES - "Fourth Commandment - Sabbath"
What a brilliant idea! One day off every week! God thought of it first. Rest! Every person needs rest. This is the only one of the ten commandments (video)  not taught in the New Testament, because God gives believers rest every day when the Comforter comes in - the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 28:11-12.)

Exodus 20:8-11 - "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work."  Let's read the story. Bible and Commentary

PROPHECIES - "The Tabernacle Curtains and Boards" (Video)
God told Moses every detail of the tabernacle, including the number of boards with their measurements, wood type, and overlayments. He defined all the curtains and coverings by material, color and measurement, and how they were to be placed. The principal colors were blue, purple and scarlet. The metals were gold and silver. The skins were goat and badger. It is inconceivable that a God of such detail doesn't care about the minutiae of our lives.

Exodus 26:30 - "And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount."   Let's read the story. Bible and Commentary





How to Build an Idol

PRAYER - "Face to Face with God"

God punished Israel for worshiping the golden calf, but Moses' intercession saved their lives. Immediately, God again promised to give them a land flowing with milk and honey. But the people were unmoved. Ultimately, it was Moses' profound relationship with God that salvaged the entire project. Israel could easily see that when Moses entered the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and the voice of God spoke to Moses. Remember, whole nations can depend on one man's prayers.

Exodus 33:11 - "And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." Let's read the story.  Bible and Commentary.

PRINCIPALS - "Mount Sinai"
Mount Sinai was in the Wilderness of Sin, (some believe) named after the "moon god", Sin. But it was not a moon god who made it famous. Today, "scholars" could drive you crazy with arguments about where Sinai is, but it does not really matter. What matters is that God spoke to Moses and Israel there, and forever changed the world.

Exodus 19:18 - "And mount Sinai (Video) was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly."  Let's read the story. Bible and Commentary.

PRINCIPLES - "First Commandment - No Other Gods"
What did any other god ever do for you? The God who created everything, including YOU and ME, deserves all the glory. It is a shame that He has to tell us not to worship anybody else. You can call it a commandment if you want, but it begs to be appreciated as a stark reality. There ARE no other gods. Whoever created all this universe, OWNS it. Worshiping anything else is just plain stupid. That may not be grammatically correct, but it is theologically incontrovertible.

Exodus 20:3 - "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."  Let's read the story. Bible and Commentary.

PROPHECIES - "Ark of the Covenant"


Ark of the Covenant
Video

The first item God commissioned for the Tabernacle was the Ark of the Covenant. Built of shittim wood, roughly about 4ft-L x 3ft-W x 3ft-H, overlaid with and crowned with gold. Staves permanently slid through rings on four corners for carrying by priests. The "testimony" (Ten Commandments) inside was covered by a beaten-golden "mercy seat" with two winged cherubims facing each other. It prefigured Jesus Christ; the embodiment and mouthpiece of everything divine.
Exodus 25:22 - "...there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat."  Let's read the story. Bible and Commentary.




 

 

 

Identity That Can't
 Be Shaken

PRAYER - "Moses the Intercessor"
After meeting God in Sinai, Moses found Israel riotously worshiping a golden calf. God started to utterly destroy them, offering to make Moses a great nation instead. But Moses wanted to be blotted out of the book of life if God would not save Israel. That was dramatic intercession!
Exodus 32:31-32 - "Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." Let's read the story.  Bible and Commentary.


PRINCIPALS - "Exodus"

The book of Exodus is, at the outset, a biography of Moses - arguably the most significant human being ever born. Without Moses, there would have been no Bible, no Jews, no Christians, and no Muslims, and no rule of law as we know it. What man left his stamp on civilization for all time as Moses? Yet, if there had been no burning bush, no voice of God, no leprous hand, no rod changed to a serpent, we would never have heard of Moses. Without God, there had been no Moses. What would not happened if Moses had procrastinated.
     Deuteronomy 33:1 - "Moses the man of God"  Let's read the story. Bible and Commentary.

PRINCIPLES - "The Ten Commandments"
Before God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, He had already done many mighty miracles in behalf of the children of Israel (i.e., deliverance from Pharaoh, Red Sea crossing, Manna, Quail, etc.). If they had been grateful, they should have been eager to conform to His commandments. But God had to remind them of His goodness. Let us remember that we owe Him far more than He will ever ask of us.

Exodus 20:2 - "I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."  Let's read the story. Bible and Commentary.

PROPHECIES - "The Tabernacle Plan"

The Tabernacle plan was as prophetic as anything in the Bible. Virtually everything about the tabernacle and its furnishings carried a message about the coming Messiah and His plan to redeem men from their sins. If Moses had not followed God's pattern meticulously, a profound message would have been skewed or totally lost.

Exodus 25:8-9 - "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it."  Let's read the story. Bible and Commentary.

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PRAYER - "When Expectations Backfire"
Moses did what God told him to do. He and Aaron presented themselves to Pharaoh and delivered the message God gave him. But instead of freeing Israel, Pharaoh was bitter and punished them harsher. God often allows our enemies to rage before He smites them. It may look like our prayers and obedient actions have totally backfired, but they haven't. Moses complained, but God assured him that judgment was coming for Pharaoh.

Exodus 5:22 - "And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?"  Let's read the story. Bible and Commentary

PRINCIPALS - "Twelve Tribes"
Joseph was the first of the tribal elders to Egypt. The eleven brothers came later, in God's time, with their father. The Levites, as priests, did not inherit lands, leaving eleven. Joseph would be replaced by his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Hence, the number remained twelve. Twelve seems to be the number of divine government. Israel had twelve tribes. The church had twelve apostles. The city of Heaven has twelve foundations and twelve gates.

Exodus 1:2-5 - "Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. ...Joseph."   Let's read the story.  Bible 

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Dead Churches

PRINCIPLES - "Firstborn"
God in His Holiness instructed Moses to inform Pharaoh that Israel was God's firstborn. If Pharaoh would not free Israel, God would destroy Pharaoh's firstborn. God claimed Abraham's firstborn - "thine ONLY SON Isaac" (as if Ishmael had never been born). When Esau and Jacob were born, Esau despised his role as firstborn, so God claimed Jacob as his firstborn. This is not saying that Israel was God's first son, "because ALL the firstborn are mine," Numbers 3:13.

Exodus 4:22 - "And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn."  Let's read the story. Bible and Commentary

 

 

PROPHECIES - "God Meant It Unto Good"

Jacob was dead. The family took him to Hebron and buried him in the cave at Machpelah. The brothers were afraid that Joseph would now avenge himself of their former sins. They appealed to him for mercy. Joseph assured them that he knew God was working for all their good in that horrific experience. We should remember that in our trials. Learning to return daily unto God!
   Genesis 50:20 - "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."  Let's read the story. Bible and Commentary